Compound explosion-engine.



N0. 678,7l5. Patented luly I6, l90l; E. BUTLER. COMPOUND EXPLOSION ENGINE (Applination filed. Jan. 23, 1901.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets$heet l llllllll IIIIDII.

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No. 678,7l5. Patented My l6, IQUI. E. BUTLER.

COMPOUND EXPLUSION ENGINE.

(Application filed Jan. 28, 1.901.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet z.

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N0. 678,7!5. Patented luly'l6, I90l. IE. BUTLER.

'CUMPDUND EXPLOSION ENGINE.

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No. 678,7!5. Patented July 16. 1901'. E. BUTLER.

COMPOUND EXPLOSION ENGINE.

(Application filed Jan. 28, 1901.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets Sheat 4L.

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EDWARD BUTLER, OF GATESHEAD, ENGLAND.

COMPOUND EXP LOSION'ENGINE.

SPEGIFEGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,715, dated July 16, 1901. Application filed January 23, 1901. fierial No. 44,418. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I, EDWARD BUTLER, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Gateshead-on-Tyne, county of Durham, England, have invented. Improvements in Compound Explosion-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention has reference to an improved construction of explosion-engine comprising two four-cycle explosion-cylinders whose pistonsare respectively actuated by explosions of a mixture of petroleum-vapor and air or gas and air, an expansion-cylinder whose piston is actuated by expansion insuch cylinder of hot gases entering same alternately from each of said explosion-cylinders, appropriate passages and ports, and a single balanced rotary valve so constructed and arranged that said valve, as will be hereinafter explained, without the aid of any additional valve can control the admission of explosive mixture to the passages or chambers communicating with and to the respective explosion-cylinders the escape of the hot products of combustion therefrom, ad mission of same into the expansion-cylinder, the exhaust from the latter into the atmosphere, and the admission of scavenging charges of air to the explosion chambers or passages of the explosion-cylinders all at the times required for theeflicientworking of the engine.

Referring to the accompanying illustrative drawings, Figure 1 shows, partly in front elevation and partly in sections respectively on the line A A and the line B B of Fig. 2, a construction of three-cylinder explosion-engine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 shows said engine in cross-section on line C O of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a horizontal section on lines D D of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a horizontal section on line E E of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a horizontal section on line F F of Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 a horizontal section on line G G of Fig. 2.

a and b are the two explosion-cylinders, the pistons c d of which are respectively connected by piston-rods e and f to cranks g and h, set in line with each other on the crankshaft 70.

m is the expansion=cylinder, whose piston 12 is connected by the piston-rode with a crank p, set upon the shaft at an angle to and between the cranks g and h. The crank 19 is,

as shown, preferably set about one hundred and ninety-five degrees in advance of the cranks g and h in order that the clearing charges of air may be pumped through the explosion chambers or passages S 8 and 9 9, as hereinafter described, and also that the expansive properties of the gases of the explosion-cylinders may be utilized to the best advantage.

Q is the balanced rotary distributing-valve, to be presently described, and which is located partly in a chamber formed to receive it and furnished with liners 2 and partlyin a casing 2*. The explosion-cylinder a communicates with the valve-chamber by the two passages 8 and oppositely-arranged ports 6, as also by the two passages 23 and the oppositely-arranged ports 21. The explosion-cylinder b in like manner communicates with the valve-chamber by the two passages 9 and oppositely-arranged ports 7, as also by the two passages 2i and oppositely-arranged ports 22. The expansion-cylinder m communicates by the passage 13 with the chamber 13*, through which the valve Q passes. The interior of the casing 2*,wherein the valve is also partly located, is provided with an inlet 1 in communication with some source of supply of explosive mixture. The valve-chamber communicates with the atmosphere by oppositely-arranged ports 17 and passage 18.

The valve Q is constructed with three chamhers-namely, a chamber 4, having two pocket-like upward extensions 4*, a chamber 11, and a chamber 19, having two pocket-like extensions 19* and which is open to the atmosphere. with inlet ports 3 and with oppositely-arranged outlet-ports 5, which at certain times coincide with the ports 6 of the passages S and at certain other times with the ports 70f the passages 9. The chamber 11 is provided with three sets of ports, as follows-namely, one set comprising two oppositely-arranged inlet-ports 10, which at certain times coincide with the ports 6 of the passages 8 and at certain other times with the ports 7 of the passages 9, another set comprising two oppositely-arranged ports 12, which are always open to the chamber 13*, and a third set comprising four ports 15, which at certain times coincide with the four ports 17. The chamber The chamber t 4* is provided 19 19*, which is open to the atmosphere, is provided with oppositely-arranged outlet-ports 20, which at certain times coincide with the ports 21 of the passages 23 and at certain other times with the ports 22 of the passages 24. As will be seen, the valve is slightly conical, and its lower and smaller end rests on a bush 25, screwed into the lowerend of the casing 2*, an arm 26, fixed to the lower end of the bush 25,being provided, whereby the bush is capable of being turned, and consequently adjusted, in either vertical direction to compensate for wear and expansion of the valve. To prevent accidental movement of the bush 25 after the valve has been once set, as desired for the time being, there is provided a pawl 27, whose stem 27 is adapted to slide in ahole 28 in the arm 26 and has at its outer end a handle 29, whereby the pawl can be drawn outwardly-that is to say, away from a curved rack 30, with which it is caused to normally engage by a spring. (Not shown.) The Valve has to be rotated once for each four revolutions of the crank-shaft 76. For this purpose the arrangement illustrated comprises chain-wheels r on the crank-shaft, chain 3, chain-wheels i, spindle 'Lb, Worm v, and worm-Wheel w. The worm-wheel w is fixed upon a short vertically-arranged spindle 31, formed with a socket 82 at its upper end, within which slides the squared spindle or end 33 of the valve.

The explosive mixture enters through the inlet 1, formed in the casing 2*, passes through the ports 3 of the valve Q to the chamber at 4* in the valve, and passes thence by the pair of ports 5 into the explosion-cylinder a and into the explosion-cylinder b alternately by the pair of ports 6 or 7 in the liner 2 and the double passage 8 or 9, respectively, the ignition ot' the mixture being effected at the required times by any suitable electrical igniting devices at 8* While the one explosion-cylinder is receiving its charge of explosive mixture, the explosive mixture that has been compressed in the other explosioncylinder is exploded, and during the succeeding instroke while the compression of the charge is taking place in the first-mentioned cylinder the hot gases of combustion that have done duty in the other explosion-cylinder are escaping thence into the expansioncylinder 1% by Way of the before-mentioned double passages 8 or 9, the pair of ports 6 or 7, the pair of ports 10 in the valve, the chamber 11, the pair of ports 12, and the passage 13. The gases that have doneduty in the expansion-cylinder m escape thence to the atmosphere during the instroke of the piston n by way of the passage 13, the pair of ports 12 in the valve, the chamber 11, the oppositely-arranged ports 15 in the valve, the ports 17 in the liner, and the passage 18. The size of the expansion-cylinderm relatively to the size of the explosion-cylinders is such as to expand the hot gases supplied to it from the explosion cylinders to below atmospheric pressure, so that at about the end of each outstroke of the piston 91 of the expansion-cylinder m a partial vacuum will be produced in that explosion -cylinder which has just ex hausted into the expansion-cylinder m, which partial vacuum is utilized to pump a clearing charge of air through the double passages 8 or 9 into the expansion-cylinder on, the air entering through the upperopen end of the chambers 19 and passing thence through the pair of ports 20, the pair of ports 21 or 22 in the liner, and the double passages 23 or 2 1 already described.

It will be understood that the described construction and arrangement of the distrib* uting-valve Q and the various ports and passages are such that in each quarter-rotation of the said valve there is an aspiration of explosive mixture to one of the explosion-cylinders a or Z), an exhaust from one of the said cylinders to the expansion-cylinder an, admission of a clearing charge of air to the passages or chambers S or 9 of one of the explosion-cylinder a or b, which sweeps the resid ual gases out and into the expansion-cylinder m, and an exhaust from the expansioncylinder at to the atmosphere. The drawings show the piston c'of the explosion-cyl inder a at the end of its compression-stroke, the piston d of the explosion-cylinder Z) at the end'of its exhaust-stroke, and the piston n of the expansion-cylinder m at the com mencement of its exhaust-stroke,in which positions, assuming the valve Q to be rotating in the direction of the arrows 00, Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, the pair of ports 10, lead ing to the chamber 11 of the valve Q, are just closed to the explosion-cylinder b, and the pair of ports 5, leading from the chamber 4t 4*, are about to be opened to admit explosive mixture to the said cylinder 6, (see Fig. 3,) the pair of ports 20, leading from the chamber 19 19*, are about to be closed to the passages 24:, leading to the explosion-cylinder 1), (see Fig. 4,) and the ports 15, leading from the chamber 11, are about to be opened to the passage 18, leading to the atmosphere, to allow of the escape of the contents of the expansion-cylinder on during the exhaust or instroke of its piston n. The pair of ports 20, which admit air for sweeping out the passages or chambers 8 and 9 of the explosioncylinders a and b, are caused to open at about three-quarters of the instroke of the piston c or piston 61, as the case may be, and to close at about the commencement of the aspiration-stroke of such piston c or piston d. As already stated, the chamber 11, ports 12, and passage 13 are in constant communication with the expansion-cylinder m.

The engine hereinbefore described is adapted to work on a variable supply of explosive mixture controlled by a governor in the usual Way. Starting may be quickly and easily performed by admitting compressed air to the expansion-cylinder m on the outstroke of its piston 91 for one or two revolutions, which operation may be easily performed by a handcontrolled valve.

A three-cylinder double-acting engine according to this invention would in arrangement be similar to the engine hereinbefore described, the distribution of the gases at the lower end of the cylinder being controlled by a similar valve to the valve Q, arranged at the lower end of the cylinders to one side thereof in an inverse vertical position to the valve controlling the distribution of the gases at the upper ends of the cylinders.

In some cases igniting devices other than electrical may be employed. Other means than those illustrated can obviously be employed to rotate the valve Q once during every four rotations of the crank-shaft k. What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an explosion-engine, the combination with pistons, connecting-rods and a shaft having three cranks, of two four-cycle explosion cylinders, each provided with a port and passages for admission of explosive mixture and emission of products of combustion and with a port and passages for admission of a clearing charge of air; an expansion-cylinder located between said explosion-cylinders; an inlet and outlet port and passage connecting same with a chamber surrounding the dis tributing valve; a chamber with liners; a casing below same; a balanced rotary distribnting-valve, located partly in said liners, partly in said surrounding chamber, and 5 partly in said casing, said valve being formed, as described, with three chambers, namely, a chamber having inlet'ports for explosive mixture and oppositely-arranged outlet-ports adapted to coincide at certain times with 40 ports of the passages or chambers that supply explosive mixture to said two explosioncylinders alternately, a second chamber provided with three sets of oppositely-arranged ports, one set adapted to coincide at certain times with the explosive-mixture ports of the explosion-cylinders, another set of ports always open to the before-mentioned surrounding chamber, and a third set of ports adapted to coincide at certain times with ports of a passage open to the atmosphere; and a third chamber open to the atmosphere and having oppositely-arranged ports adapted to coincide at certain times with ports of the passages or chambers for supplying clearing charges of air to the appropriate passages or chambers of said two explosion-cylinders alternately,

and means for rotating said valve once during every four rotations of said crank-shaft.

2. Man explosion-engine, the combination with pistons, connecting-rods and a shaft having three cranks, of two four-cycle explosioncylinders, each provided with a port and passages for admission of explosive mixture and emission of products of combustion and with a port and passages for admission of a clearing charge of air; an expansion-cylinder located between said explosion-cylinders; an

inlet and outlet port and passage connecting same with a chamber surrounding the distributing-valve; a chamber with liners; a casing below same; a balanced rotary distributing-valve, located partly in said liners, partly in said surrounding chamber, and partly in said casing, said valve being formed, as described, with three chambers, namely, a chamber having two pocket-like upward extensions with inlet-ports for explosive mixture and with oppositely-arran ged ontlet-ports adapted to coincide at certain times with ports of the passages or chambers that supply explosive mixture to said two explosion-cylinders alternately, a second chamber provided with three sets of oppositely-arranged ports, one set adapted to coincide at certain times with the explosive-mixture ports of the explosion-cylinders, another set of ports always open to the before-mentioned surrounding chamber, and a third set of ports adapted to coincide at certain times with ports of a passage open to the atmosphere; and a third chamber open to the atmosphere and having two pocket-like downward extensions and oppositely-arranged ports adapted to coincide at certain times with ports of the passages or chambers for supplying clearing charges of air to the appropriate passages or chambers of said two explosion-cylinders alternately, and means for rotating said valve once during every four rotations of said crank-shaft.

3. The distributing-valve Q having cham her a, 4*, with ports 3 and 5, chamber 11 with ports 10, 12, and 15 and chamber 19, 19* with ports 20, substantially as shown, for the pur pose specified.

4:. In an explosion-engine, the combination with pistons, connecting-rods and a shaft having three cranks, of two fourcycle explosion-cylinders, each provided with a port and passages for admission of explosive mixture and emission of products of combustion and with a port and passages for admission of a clearing charge of air; an expansion-cylinder located between said explosion-cylinders; an inlet and outlet port and passage connecting same with a chamber surrounding the dis tributingvalve; a chamber with liners; a casing below same; a balanced rotary distributing-valve, located partly in said liners,

partly in said surrounding chamber, and partly in said casing,said valve being formed, as described, with three chambers, namely, a chamber having two pocket-like upward extensions with inlet-ports for explosive mixture and with oppositely-arranged outletports adapted to coincide at certain times with ports of the passages or chambers that supply explosive mixture to said two explosion-cylinders alternately, a second chamber provided with three sets of oppositely-arranged ports, one set adapted to coincide at certain times with the explosive-mixtu re ports of the explosion-cylinders,another set of ports always open to the beforementioned surrounding, chamber, and a third set of ports adapted to coincide at certain times with ports of a passage open to the atmosphere; and a third chamber open to the atmosphere and having two pocket-like downward extensions and oppositely-arranged ports adapted to coincide at certain times with ports of the passages or chambers for supplying clearing charges of air to the appropriate passagesor chambers of said two explosion-cylinders alternately,and means comprising worm-wheel, worm, cross-shaft, chain-wheels on the crossshaft, chains, and chain-wheels on the crankshaft of the motor, for rotating said valve once during every four rotations of the said crank-shaft.

5. In an explosion engine, the combination with pistons, connecting-rods and a shaft having three cranks, of two four-cycle explosion-cylinders, each provided with a port and passages for admission of explosive mixture and emission of products of combustion and with a port and passages for admission of a clearing charge of air; an expansion-cylinder located between said explosion-cylinders; an inlet and outlet port and passage connecting same with a chamber surrounding the distributing-valve; a chamber with liners; a casing below same; a balanced rotary distributing-valve, located partly in said liners, partly in said surrounding chamber, and partly in said casing, said valve being formed, as described, with three chambers, namely, a chamber having two pocket-like upward extensions with inlet-ports for explosive mixture and with oppositely-arranged outlet-ports adapted to coincide at certain times with ports of the passages or chambers that supply explosive mixture to said two explosioncylinders alternately, a second chamber provided with three sets of oppositely-arranged ports, one set adapted to coincide at certain times with the explosivemixture ports of the explosioncylinders, an other set of ports always open to the beforementioned surrounding chamber, and athird set of ports adapted to coincide at certain times with ports of a passage open to the atmosphere; and a third chamber open to the atmosphere and havingtwo pocket-like downward extensions and oppositely arranged ports adapted to coincide at certain times with ports of the passages or chambers for I supplying clearing charges of air to the apjusting the valve endwise to compensate for wear and expansion all substantially as set forth.

6. In an explosion-engine, the combination with pistons, connecting-rods and a shaft having three cranks, of two four-cycle explosion-cylinders, each provided with a port and passages for admission of explosive mixture and emission of products of combustion and with a port and passages for admission of a clearing charge of air; an expansion-cylinder located between said explosion-cylinders; an inlet and outlet port and passage connecting same with a chamber surrounding the distributing-Valve; a chamber with liners; a casing below same; a balanced rotary distributing-valve, located partly in said liners, partly in said surrounding chamber, and partly in said casing, said valve being formed, as described, with three chambers, namely, a chamber having two pocket-like upward extensions with inlet-ports for explosive mixture and with oppositely-arranged outletports adapted to coincide at certain times with ports of the passages or chambers that supply explosive mixture to said two explosion-cylinders alternately, a second chamber provided with three sets of oppositely-arranged ports, one set adapted to coincide at certain times with the explosive mixture ports of the explosion-cylinders, another set of ports always open to the before-mentioned surrounding chamber, and a third set of ports adapted to coincide at certain times with ports of a passage open to the atmosphere; and a third chamber open to the atmosphere and having two pocket-like downward extensions and oppositely-arranged ports adaptedto coincide at certain times with ports of the passages o'r chambers for supplying clearing charges of air to the appropriate passages or chambers of said two explosion-cylinders alternately, means for rotating said valve once during every four rotations of said crankshaft and means comprising a screwed sleeve on which the valve rests, a fixed correspondingly-screwed collar, a handle for turning said sleeve within said collar, a pawl moving with said handle and sliding relatively thereto, and a fixed rack with which the pawl is caused to normally engage. 1

Signed at Gateshead, in the county of Durham, this 31st day of December, 1900.

EDWARD BUTLER. Witnesses:

THos. HENDERSON, J. A. HYMERS. 

